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The Illinois State Board of Elections confirmed that Monday was the deadline for independent candidates to file in Jackson’s second congressional district. It was the same day Jackson’s office announced he was taking leave from his congressional job due to exhaustion.

That means anyone who might have been tempted to run against Jackson because of his perceived vulnerability, is now officially locked out of the race.

The timing becomes more curious because Jackson actually began his leave from Congress more than two weeks ago.

Jackson Aide: "The Congressman Works Hard"

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Chief of Staff, Rick Bryant, goes on the record for the first time since the congressmen took a medical leave for exhaustion.

“We were prepared to make a statement last week when the news broke that Nayak was arrested,” Bryant said. “We postponed that announcement because this has nothing to do with the Nayak arrest. There’s no connection between the two.”

Jackson’s Republican opponent in the race is Brian Woodworth, a professor at Olivet Nazarene University.

Neighbors React to Jackson Jr.'s Leave

Neighbors and those who worked alongside U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. react to the news of the Congressman has taking a medical leave of absence. NBC5 Rob Elgas reports.